Glass-cutter



" (-No Model.)

W. J. MILLER.

I GLASS-CUTTER.

,298, Patented Pe b'20,1894.

llll llllllll 1lllllIl|l|||. ll.IlIL\ ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES AfrnNr FFIQE.

VILLIAM JOHN MILLER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

GLASS-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,298, dated February 20, 1894.

Application filed April 22, 1893. Serial No. 471,489. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J OHN MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Glass-Outters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeinghad to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in glass cutters, and consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, the handle being partly brokenaway. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear view. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken through the handle, the parts below being shown in plan.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designate the metal shank of the device, recessed to receive the handle 6 which fits tightly therein. The lower part of the shank is provided with the rack 7 having the hammer 7 at its lower extremity which projects slightly outward from the body of the rack. Rigidly secured to the back of the shank is a spindle 8, which stands at an angle to the shank, or occupies an inclined position with reference thereto. Pivotally supported upon this spindle is the knife-holder 9, the body of which consists-of a metal plate lying parallel with the spindle. The upper extremity of the knife-holder consists of a flange 9 bent to-' ward the shank and apertured to receive the upper extremity of the spindle, which projects therethrough. The lower extremity of part 9 consists of a lug 9 which also projects toward the shank, occupying a position below the spindle. The upper face of the lug 9 lies parallel with the flange 9 and is recessed to receive a steel block 10 forming a socket for the reception of the lower extremity of the spindle 8, which is cone-shaped and nicely pivoted in said socket. The spindle 8 is surrounded by a coil'spring 12 which is made fast to the spindle at its lower extremity and secured to the flange 9 at its upper extremity. The lower extremity of the lug 9 is provided with a wedge shaped recess in which is located the correspondingly shaped block 13 carrying the 'rotatingcutterl l. The lug 9 is provided with an aperture 15 communicating with the recess in which the block 13 is located. This block is held in place by means of solder which holds it in the socket.

Provision is thus made for removing the cutter block and substituting another at will. This removable feature of the cutter block is important, since the block and its knife are the only parts which are subjected to much wear, and as soon as they become worn out, new ones can be substituted at a very small cost.

The lug 9 is provided with an aperture located forward of the cutter, in which aperture is located a guide pin 16 which passes through the lug andprojects above its upper face. The upper extremity of this guide pin is surrounded by a coil-spring 17 which is attached to the upper face of the log at one extremity and to the top of the pin at the opposite extremity. This spring is so regulated that the guide pin normally projects below the bottom of the lug and the rotating cutter.

The lower extremity of the guide pin is provided with aniche 16 which the edge of the pattern enters while the instrument is in use. The aperture in which the guide pin is located is preferably angular in cross section to prevent the pin from turning during the use of the instrument. To the outer surface of the lug 9 is pivoted the spring 18 having a foot 18 at its lower extremity which is turned inward toward the lug, and enters a shallow recess formed therein. This spring 18 is reversible, since its foot maybe detached from its retaining recess, and turned upward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When in the upraised position, thefoot of the spring is made to engage the spring 17 and retain it in such aposition as to hold the guide 16 up ward, so that its lower extremity shall not project below the bottom of the lug.

The oba projection 9 which bears against a stop formed on the shank 5. The cutter l llies in a plane slightly to one side of the pivotal point of the spindle 8. This is illustrated in Fig. 3. When the instrument is drawn toward the user, as in practice, the knife is at the left of the point of the spindle. Hence as the location of the knife determines the point of resistance, as the instrument is moved forward, the tendency will be to maintain the projection 9 in contact with the stop on the shank, since the said projection is at the right of the point of the spindle and the cutter at the left. The tendency will therefore be for the three points to assume a position in a direct line with the movement of the instru ment, the spindle or pivoted point being located between the other two points. This tendency maintains the projection 9 in constant contact with the stop on the shank, when the instrument is used in doing free hand work, and keeps the knife-holder perfectly rigid with the shank at such times. The instrument is, however, specially designed for use in pattern work, or when a pattern is employed to aid the workman in cutting the glass of the proper shape. The patterns employed for this purpose are made of paper and the curves are often such that they are difficult to follow with the ordinary glasscutter.

In using my improved instrument, the guide is placed against the edge of the pattern which engages the niche 16 formed in its lower extremity. The shank is then turned inward toward the pattern and away from the projection 9 the position of the knife-holder and guide pin being determined by the contour of the pattern edge. This inward movement of the shank places the spring 12 under tension, giving the knife-holder a constant tendency to turn inward and adjust itself in line with the position of the shank. This tendency causes the guide and the cutter to automatically follow the curves or windings described by the edge of the pattern, whereby the work is much more accurately performed, and with the exercise of much less care and skill on the part of the workman than if the knife-holder were rigid with the shank as in the case of ordinary instruments of this class.

It will be observed that the instrumen should be so held that the spindle 8 will occupy a position approximately vertical, thus allowing the user to hold the handle and shank at about the natural inclination.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a glassvcutter, the combination with the handle and the rigid shank carrying the spindle made fast thereon of the spring-actuated knife-holder pivotally supported upon the spindle, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the handle, of the rigid shank having the spindle made fast thereto, the knife-holder pivoted on the spindle, the coil-spring surrounding the spindle and attached thereto at one extremity,- itsopposite extremity being attached to the holder, substantially as described.

3. In a glass-cutter, the combination with the knife-holder and the spring-actuated guide-pin, of the spring arm carrying the flange or foot which engages a niche formed 5. The combination with the handle and rigid shank, of the knife-holder attached to a spindle pivoted on the shank, the cutter being located to one side of the pivotal point, and the holder provided with a stop adapted to engage the shank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHN MILLER.

Witnesses:

BRINTON GREGORY, OHAs. E. DAWSON. 

